Argentina: The Alliance is up and running
The 21st of each month (in memory of November 21, the day on which Father d’Alzon died), approximately thirty lay Assumptionists meet next to the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes with the Assumptionist community of Santos Lugares (Buenos Aires). The purpose of their meetings is to pray together, share their brotherhood, and learn about Assumptionist spirituality.
“We sense that there is great interest among laypeople in knowing about the Assumptionist family, its founder, its works, its charism. For a long time, laypeople have been expressing this need. The time has now come to satisfy this desire” (Cristina Berardi:
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A retreat was held on July 21 in which 32 laypersons and 2 religious participated. The day was divided into three periods: First, two testimonies on Christian commitment. Second, a time of silence and prayer with a few texts from Father d’Alzon and the Rule of Life of the Assumptionists. Finally, the Eucharist and a sharing of what each one had meditated on.
Chile: The annual retreat
The annual retreat of the Chilean lay Assumptionists took place May
11-13. Participating were 38 laypersons and 3 religious. The subject
of their meditation and formation: “Mary, disciple and messenger of the
Gospel.” The director of the retreat was Fr. Pedro Pedraza, a
Colombian Assumptionist who came from Bogotá expressly for this mission
and as a gesture of integration and collaboration within the continent.
“As lay Assumptionists we reflected, in the light of the gospels and of
a few texts of Father d’Alzon, on the life of Mary. Mary also was
called by Jesus to become a disciple. Today, Assumption needs true
disciples who love Jesus. These days of retreat have led us to love
Mary a little more and to imitate her as a model of faith, obedience,
and love” (Silvia Suárez Rozas, coordinator:
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The coordinating committee is preparing the fourth national meeting of
lay Assumptionists. They hope that a few laypersons from Argentina and
Colombia will also attend.
The laity in Brazil
The lay-religious alliance is becoming stronger in Brazil. A new group
has been formed in Rio de Janeiro, adding to those already in existence
in Eugenópolis, Pinhal, and Sao Paulo. On June 16, about thirty
laypersons met in Rio with our community at Holy Trinity parish to
deepen their Assumptionist spirituality, to strengthen their Christian
commitment, and to find ways of collaborating more closely with the
Assumptionists.
“It was a very rich day for all of us. We sensed each one’s enthusiasm
and desire to become even more involved as lay Assumptionists. It was
also an occasion to share moments of prayer and to reflect on the
meaning of our mission. We are in the process of drawing up a
formation program that might already be implemented at our next meeting
on September 1, 2007. For the moment, all the groups are gearing up
for the Missionary Week to be held July 14-21, in preparation of the
ordinations that will take place in Eugenópolis (two deacons and three
priests, all of them Assumptionists)” (Maria Geralda Reis:
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